Biography

In a recording career that started in 1977 the Cars output was a meagre six albums. Each one, however, sold over a million copies and reached high chart positions in the USA. Formerly known as Capn Swing, the stable line-up comprised Ric Ocasek (Richard Otcasek, 23 March 1949, Baltimore, Maryland, USA; guitar/vocals), Benjamin Orr (b. Benjamin Orzechowski, 8 September 1947, Lakewood, Ohio, USA, d. 3 October 2000, Atlanta, Georgia, USA; bass/vocals), Greg Hawkes (keyboards), Elliot Easton (b. Elliot Steinberg, 18 December 1953, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA; guitar) and David Robinson (b. 2 April 1953, Woburn, Massachusetts, USA; drums). Their catchy pop/rock songs were hard to categorize and when they arrived with Just What I Needed, they were embraced by the new wave art-rock fraternity in the USA. They were an instant success in the UK, notching up a number of hits, and debuting with a Top 3 single, the irresistible My Best...